Citizen Soldiers opens on June 7, 1944, on the Normandy beaches, and ends on May 7, 1945. From the high command on down to the enlisted men, Stephen E. Ambrose draws on hundreds of interviews and oral histories from men on both sides who were there. He recreates the experiences of the individuals who fought the battles, the women who served, and the Germans who fought against us. Ambrose reveals the learning process of a great army -- how to cross rivers, how to fight in snow or hedgerows, how to fight in cities, how to coordinate air and ground campaigns, how to fight in winter and on the defensive, how citizens become soldiers in the best army in the world. A masterful biography of the U.S. Army in the European Theater of Operations, Citizen Soldiers provides a compelling account of the extraordinary stories of ordinary men in their fight for democracy. Download and start listening now!

Quotes & Awards

“Citizen Soldiers is just about the most gripping account of the second World War that I have ever read.”

Joseph Heller

“Stephen Ambrose has again demonstrated his absolute mastery of military history. His brilliant narrative puts you on the field of battle as you listen to the brave American citizen soldiers who defeated fascism and freed a continent. An extraordinary book and worthy companion to D-Day.”

Colin Powell

“Citizen Soldier is an unforgettable testament to the World War II generation.”

New York Times

“These events have all been well documented, but in Ambrose’s capable
hands, the bloody and dramatic battles fought in northwest Europe in
1944–45 come alive as never before.”

New York Times Book Review

“History boldly told and elegantly written....Gripping.”

Wall Street Journal

“Citizen Soldiers [is] a high point in Ambrose’s long fascination with the nature of leaders and followers.”

Time

“Ambrose proves once again he is a master historian…The book captures the bizarre contradictions, random kindness and unexpectedly comic moments of the push to Berlin as memorably as a great war novel.”

People

“Ambrose’s arsenal is imposing and effective; his pen is a machine gun: detached, hot, and devastating.”

Ken Burns

“Ambrose’s Citizen Soldiers is his best book ever, the culmination of a career largely spent immersed in the details of Ike’s war.”

Detroit Free Press

“Highly recommended for fans of Ambrose, as well as all readers interested in understanding the life of a 1940s army grunt.”

Amazon.com (editorial review)

“Stephen Ambrose proves again that history need not be boring or impersonal…George Wilson brings a touch of personality to his narration while respecting Ambrose’s journalistic style.”

AudioFile

“With remarkable immediacy and clarity, as though he had trained a
telescopic lens on the battlefields, Ambrose offers a stirring portrayal
of the terror and courage experienced by men at war.”

Kirkus Reviews

“Writing about the personal level of combat is Ambrose’s forte and has contributed to his reputation as a celebrated military historian…Ambrose solidly coheres disparate facts into a fully faceted story.”

Booklist

“This well-written oral history would also make an excellent general text. Highly recommended.”

Library Journal

New York Times bestseller

A USA Today bestseller

A 1998 New York Times Notable Book for Nonfiction

Listener Opinions

Thom | 5/9/2011

" It compares well with other works by Stephen Ambrose
"

Erin | 3/3/2011

" Great details of the lives of soldiers in WWII.
"

Ray | 2/28/2011

" a look at the personalities of the citizen soldiers who were part of the greatest generation who fought and won the second world war, really good so far, i enjoy the personal accounts of the soldiers themselves
"

David | 2/12/2011

" Stephen Ambrose's books are very uneven to me but this is my favorite of the bunch. Filled with interesting facts and fascinating vignettes.
"

Richard | 12/29/2010

" I'd like this book better if Ambrose wasn't a plagarist
"

Matty | 12/26/2010

" If I remember correctly, it had a bit of a propagandist attitude about being a soldier.
"

Rich | 9/24/2010

" What a great perspective of the war -- the soldiers perspective.
"

Bill | 9/8/2010

" really good history of what it was like to be an American 'grunt' in the front lines of Europe after Normandy. We have a lot to be thankful for their sacrifices during that period.
"

Amy | 8/31/2010

" Social history of Europe by Ambrose. Probably the best book I read for the class and actually enjoyable. Problems with documentation were pointed out to me...but I didn't think they were all that bad. Ambrose is an excellent storyteller, whatever else his problems might be.
"

Pat | 8/26/2010

" Good and informative account of WWII following D-Day. Like "Undaunted Courage," you have to look past Ambrose's gung-ho enthusiasm for the topic in order to get to the facts. Amazing what conditions the soldiers had to endure.
"

About the Author

Stephen E. Ambrose (1936–2002)was the author of Citizen Soldiers, Undaunted Courage, and D-Day, as well as biographies of Presidents Eisenhower and Nixon. He also founded the Eisenhower Center and was president of the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. His book, Band of Brothers, was the basis for the HBO miniseries.

About the Narrator

George K. Wilson is a working actor in stage, film, television, and commercials with almost one hundred audiobook narrations to his credit. He began in broadcast journalism with American Forces Radio and Television and is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He had a lead role in the cult film classic Attack of the Killer Tomatoes and appeared on television’s One Life to Live, Ryan’s Hope, and The Doctors and has been heard on voice-overs for The Guiding Light and The Cosby Show, as well as many television and radio commercials.

[ShoppingCartItemsAddedOnMerge] audiobook(s) were left in your cart from a previous visit, and saved to your account for your convenience. You may view or remove these audiobooks on the shopping cart page.